in giving in such sweet returus of prayer let him alone have the praise and be ye all incouraged and stirred up to pray continually and be very watchful that if at any time God do move you to do any thing do it with all your might according to the assistanco the Lord gives you for I have found it a great grieving of the spirit to put it of with delayes through carnal reasonings of the flesh which indeed vvould have hindreed mee in offering of these few experiences to the view of the vvorld but vvhen God vvas pleased to give me a heart to it and I set upon it vvith a resolution in his strength to go through it not with standing all opposition Oh! then was the Lord pleased to come in again and fill my soul with peace and joy unspeakable and full of glory which was to my great refreshment I being then in a strange Land Holand seperated from Country kindred and fathers house yea there and then did our good God according to what I had wont to have give into my spirit heavenly Allelujas both night and day with many sweet Instructions from him self when it was with us as it were a time of famine of the word our Teathers being removed into corners and thrown into prisons in the Year 1662. O! how was I then stirred up by the teachings of that good Spirit often to praising and often to very earnest prayer as for my self so for his poorasslicted persecuted people and then also I found my heart much enlarged to love and to do good and lay out my self for sa ints of all perswasions yea and all others also as I had opportunity And upon this ground because my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus hath set mee a pattern to do good to all and what talent soever we do recieve we must lay it out to his praise if it be but one and it shall be increased this I have had experience of be not backward to improve thy talent because another may have more then thou that springs from a root of pride and negligence is the way to loose what thou hast but look up to God for a blessing upon the right use of what thou hast received and if he seeth it good that thou mayest better honnor him with more he will give in thee in his own way and time for then shall ye know if ye follow on to know the Lord. Hose 6. 3. It is also promised that they who be planted in the house of the Lord like a watered Gardin shall they grow and florish and bring forth fruit in their old age Psa 92 12 13. Further o let all the beloved of the Lord take a specialcare of every Gospel ordinance and commandment of our Lord to hold forth what light you have received for there is non of the ordinances of the Gospel to be slighted for they hold out unto us those choyce priviledges that vvere purchased for us vvith the precious blood of Jesus Christ I have found great peace and injoyed much of Gods presence in vvaiting upon him in the vvay of his appointments and I have found the Lord not leaving but teaching of mee vvhen I out of conscience have forborn vvhere they vvere not tobe injoyed according to the rule of the Gospel and expose my self to any suffring to injoy them in the purity of them and indeed God doth take special notice of them vvho they be and vvhere they dvvell Revel 2 13. that in sore persecuting and suffering times hold fast his truths and do not deny his name Mal. 3 16 and hath promised that they vvho keep the vvord of his patience shall be keept in the hour of temptation And vvhen he hath humbled us he vvill shevv us the pattern of his house the goings out and the comings in thereof and the fashions Lawes and ordinances thereof that we may do them Ezek. 43 11. And the time doth hasten that God will turn to the people a pure Language And all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest And he will lead the blinde in a way that they know not he will make darkness become light and crooked things streight and bitter things sweet and hard things easy and this he will do and not forsake us Further let none be discouraged to do their duty though never so weak yet if thou beest acted by the Spirit of God weak meanes often times becomes effectual to accomplish great things for by experience also I know when some persons have been praying together that one being senceable of the state of the other and mourning over their sin before the Lord God have made use of those very mournings and breathings to convince the other of their sinful state with the danger of it and thereby have been caused to turn from sin unto the Lord whose eyes were never opened before One Maid who by this meanes was convinced and said nothing at present but after prayer retiring herself to her Bible with a purpose to see what word of comfort she could find there and it pleased God to hand to her that place Rom. 8 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortisy the deeds of the body ye shall live which word God did make very powerful and effectual to help forward his work upon her soul All these speak forth the freeness of Gods rich grace therefore who ever readeth and under standeth what is in this free workings of God good Spirit let him alone have all the praise and glory and the Lord inclined my heart every day more and more to praise him for his unchangeable love in Jesus Christ therefore let them that read this give God praise for this undeserved mercy and let me have a share in your prayers that I may be filled with a spirit of praise for none have more cause then I to speak well of his great and holy name and that I may honour God that little time that I have to live upon the earth and that in all changes For if God sees affliction to be good for mee I desire not to dispise his chastizements for I have found more strength in a great affliction then in a little one and my soul hath been filled with joy out of measure Therefore if we be brought to this take joyfully the spoiling of our goods knowing we have a better inheritance and the giving up all to the will of God who gave all to us we shall have all given to us with advantage oh the fulness of him that filleth all in all but I am nothing and can do nothing no longer then he doth assist therefore praise him for ever more And since I was taken of from my incumbrances in the world and had more time to spend in the wayes and work of God waiting on him for more of himself the Lord according to his promise hath revealed himself more abundantly and I have
words following Awake therefore to righteousness This was again brought to mind in January 1662. The Lord is near at hand And will afflict now very sore By sea and like by land And this seemes to agree with and is a further addition to what wa's given mee in before in the Year 1657. which is as followeth There is a time approaching near at hand That men shall be in fear by sea and land There is a time there will be alteration And this same time doth hasten to this nation Let now my children hearken to my will And they shall see I will be with them still These with many more such things came upon my spitit and then after seeking the Lord he was pleased to shew mee by degrees what was the work of the day for I am a stranger and a Pilgrim therefore I seek sor a Kingdom whose Buylder and Maker is God I desire not to set up the Idol of covetâ—ousness but to have it to be my meat and drink to do the will of my Father which is in heaven and 't is my onely desire to deny my self and to honor him seeking to know the present work of the day some Scriptures with many waity considerations were set upon my heart Hezekiahs prayers and tears which were accepted of God when his heart was broaken A broaken and a comrite heart is acceptable in the sight of God and he will dwelâ— with such Isa 57 15. rend your hearts and not your garments and turn to the Lord indeed when much of the sorm of Godliness appears but the power is waming then it is a time to mourn and in some it hath been so in all ages theresore Gods Prophet was bâ—d cry aloud and spare not Isa 58 1. VVhen sinlies hiden in the heart nothing is accepted Isai 58 2. Yet yoe seek mee early and desire to know my wayes as a nation that did righteousness read and mind the whole Cnap Isa 15 16. Cease to do evil saith the Lord and learn to doe well c. But unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth seenig thou hatest to be refâ—rmed then it came upon my heart that the duty of the present time was for the people of God to be very much in these following things The work of the day 1. First to be watchful that the caâ—es of this world and the deceitfulness of riches make us not to forget the coming of Christ and the glory that shall then be revealed 2. Secondly be moderate in all things the Lord is at hand be patient and act much faith be much in prayer do good lay up treasures in heaven these be all very weighty things 3. Be much in humiliation seek not great things for your selves in a day when God is pulling down God pronounceth a 〈◊〉 to them that are at case in Sion that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near A mos 6. vers 3 4 5 6. that lie upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall and so fill themselves in seasting delighting in Musick and drinking wine in bowles but are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph And the same evil the Prophet Isaiah complaines of also in the 22 of Isa vers 5 9 12 13 14. In that day the Lord God of Hâ—asts called to weeping and mourning and to baldness and girding with sackâ—loath and behold joy and 〈◊〉 slâ—ying oxâ—n and killing of sheep c. In what day was this you may sâ—e in the 5 and 9 verses it was a day of trouble and â—teading down and peâ—plexity But see how the Lord takes notice of this their contrary â—â—â—riage in the 14 verse he chargeth it upon them as such an iniquity as he tells them shall not be purged from them till they dye verse the 14. It is said when the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth the inhabitants thereof shall learn righteousness But it is threatened they shall have no peace who go on in the wayes of sin and wickedness but all that would have peace must come from sin unto Jesus Christ and walk in the way of peace by this way we hide in the rock and enter into the secret chambers where God had promised to keep us till his indignation be over past Then benig troubled in my spirit the Lord was pleased to give in these following promises as special comforts against those great and publique calamities which were coming I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Isai 34 25. I also will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. Zeph. 3 12. And they shall be mine saith the Lord in the day that I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Malachy 3 17. And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul in drought and make fat they bones and thou shall be like a wattered garden and like springs of watter whose watters faile not Isa 58 11. And Moses said unto the people Fear ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you to day for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day you shall see them again no more â—or ever Exod. 14 13. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous run into it and is safe Prov. 18 10. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strentgh they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walke and not faint Isa 40 31. Also the Lord set it upon my heart how the people of God ought to caâ—ry it in such a day of calamity namely that they ought to have upon their hearts a deep sence of sin which is the cause of sorrow as Lots righteous soul was grieved with the unclean conversation of the wicked therefore God took care of him and he was preserved when others were destroyed with the firy storme of Gods Also God is pleased to set a mark upon the fore-heads of them that mourn for the abomination of the times Also it was given me in to believe that God would be a wall of fire about his people with this promise That all things shall work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose Rom. 8 28. And the Lord said All things were made for himself and nothing shall be destroyed vvithout mee And God appeared unto Abraham saying I am God alsufficient c. Gen. 17 1. Let my word be a light to thy feet and a Lanthorn to thy pathes for I will keep them in perfect peace whose
the pit And lowest place of Hell Admire admire my love to thee VVhich took thee from so low And set thee in high places free VVhere thou my love might'st know VVing thou aloft and cast thy self Into mine Arms of love Look up look up and thou shalt see My glory is above Let not the wicked know thy joy But let my servants hear VVhat I have done for thee my love Since thou to mee drew'st near My servants walk in clouds and bogg's They do not see my light The day draws near and will appear That I will shine most bright I will appear in my glory and be a perfect light Admire admire the thing that I will do All nations shall it hear and know VVhat I am doing now I will a habitation be To them that fear my name They shall lie down in safty and Give glory to the same All they that in high places sit And takes their honours low Shall be made tremble quake and pine VVhen they my Iustice know Come hide come hide come hide with me Come hide thee in the Rock Come draw thy Comforts high from mee I my treasures unlock Also it was agreed upon by some of the Lords people with whom I was then present that we should appoint and keep a day of solemn seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer that wee might know what was the duty Gods poor Children ought to be found in at that time but after this was agreed upon and the day appointed I was before the time came removed about 30 miles from them and so that thing went out of my minde but God by his Spirit set me upon the same work by five in the morning the same day and about the middle of the day God brought to my remembrance that agreement so we were at the same work at the same time though far distant one from another and indeed the Lord was graciously present pouring out much of the spirit of prayer and supplication after which earnest seeking of God was this following prophesye given in unto mee Shall light appear and darkness done away Shall Sommers green be cloathed all in gray Shall a bright morning set in shadowees dark Oh! England Englandâ— take heed thou dost not smart And after this prophesy was set upon my heart that notable promise 2 Chro. 7 14. Iâ— my people which are called by my name turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heat their Land Next morning about four of the clock being in my bed I had this laid before mee that God would affict that nation with great afflictions but I not knowing what God would try the Nation with did desire this of the Lord that I might chuse with David rather to fall into the hands of God then into the hands of merciless men it was much upon my heart at that time that the Lord would turn a fruitful land into barreness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Then the Lord was pleased to lay upon mee a sore affliction which I finding my self very unable to bear did as it were repent mee that I in any measure had chosen my condition and did not rather wholy submit to the will of God but the Lord did mee good by it and his strength was made persect in my weakness Then was it much set upon my heart to consider what then were the sins of the nation for which there was cause of great humiliation and indeed the consideration of these following evils was much set upon my heart 1. That great sloathfulness deadness and unfruitfulness under the means of grace which we injoyed for which the Lord threatened of old Isa 5 vers 5 6. To lay his vineyard wast to plucke up the hedge and breake downe the wall there of 2. That great abounding sin of unbelief notwithstanding the large experiences we had of Gods power for us and love to us And this I saw did cause persons to seek themselves and the world Unbelief cut them and us short of that rest that many yea the most of us promised to our selves As this unbelief of old cut Israel short of rest Heb. 3 10 11. 3. That Idolatry which mee thought I saw abounding in the nation in a threefold sence 1. First in respect of false wayes of worship contrary to the rule of the Gospel and primitive exemple 2. Secondly in respect also of resting upon duty and so not resting upon Iesus Christ that Rock of ages this also was one of poor Israels evils crying out the Temple of Lord c. Ier. 7 4. 3. In respect of coveteousness this in Scripture is called Idolatry also Oh! that too too earnest desire that was in some after the Foulish vanities of this present evil world and in others after the vain profits of the world and in others also after the vain glory and preferment thereof these things were much upon my heart and this was that for which God was angry of old with his people and smote them and hid his face from them Isa 57 17. 4. Fourthly That pride that I saw abounding in the lives of many I fear was in the hearts of others Which appeared in their slighting the Councel of Gods Spirit and their persifting to go on in seeking and setting up self nothwithstanding the hand of God against them These sins being very much set upon my heart with a deep consideration of many Scriptures some of them was very great and sore threatnings and other some were most sweet and precious promises to such as repent and departe from all iniquity one of which I remember was that very remarkeable place 2 Chron. 7 14. Then I looked upon it as my duty to make this known that people might be warned to depart from sin that so they might not partake of the great wrath and sore displeasure of God which I much feared was coming Then soon after I had an oppertunity to declare this to some that then were in high places and in the very entring I had this added which I also declared Didst thou not hear a voyce from on high Deny your selves take up the crosse or verily you shall die And this was approved on by some and received as a very sluitable and seasonable word but pour soules for not hearkening unto councel in departing from sin they were soon brought down and laid low yet there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared and he will manifest his love to all them that truely repent and we may all make a good use of this experience therefore let others harms become our warnings Also about the year 1658. to the best of my remembrance for having lost my book in which I had set them down in order I now wait onely upon the Lord and as he by his Spirit helps mee so I give an account of these things It was given in with aboundance of power upon my spirit these few
seaven times more Leit 26 21 24. They who departe not from sin God will departe from them and hovv sad that is let soules consider read Hosea 9 11 12 14. Therefore who ever vvould not be eternally seperated from God let them in time seperate from all sin And let poor soules take speciall heed they live not in any knovvn evil nor neglect any knovvn duty but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof for if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8 13. let me propound but this on question and I vvish all young and old Rich and poor to mind it vvhether or no it is not better to separate from sin then that sin should seperate thee from God for ever Oh! vvhat need is there that all vvho love God and their ovvn soules should hate abhorre and depart from all sin because 't is that vvhich God doth so hate as he vvill punish it vvhere ever he finds it Yea if a David a Man after Gods ovvn heart do commit any sin he must be reproved for it and God vvill so frovvne as it may cost many sigths prayers and tears before God restore unto him the joy of his salvation and though secretly committed yet God vvill punish openly that others may hear and fear 2 Sam. 12 12. Oh! hovv have I found by sad experience that pride is a breeding sin and spiritual pride is indeed the very vvorst vvhen persons come to have a little knovvledg of the things of God and have set a fevv steeps in his vvayes Many be too prone then to be puffed up vvith self conceite and to judg all others to be in errors vvho are not just of their perswasion and so to judge censure and condemne them for Heretikes and to persecute them at least vvith the tonge but though sometimes Paul did thus he acknovvledgeth it vvas from a Pharisaical spirit which vve had all need to take heed of and judg not and ye shall not be judged Alas our heavenly Father have many children but there be babes and some stronge men they are not all of an age nor cannot all see alike not acte alike let all the beloved of God cease smiâ—ing and manifest true love one another And vvhat ever their perswasion be all vvho are humble and holy and do faithfully vvalke up to the light they have received let them be beloved for the Fathers sake Oh! that vve may be filled vvith that grace of true Charity for that is a special antidote against all pride malice and any evil thoughts and evil speakings and prejudice and offences one against another 1 Cor. 13 1 4. c. There vve may read at large of the excellency of true charity Oh! the more any one is filled vvith the good Spi it of God the more shall they be enabled against all the vvorks and fruits of the flesh therefore I vvould counsel persons vvhen they avvake vvait for the teachings of the Spirit and for the accomplishment of that promise made to the last dayes And vvhat the Spirit teacheth do ye commit to the Spirits keeping and they vvhith vvhom it is the day of Gods povver are made vvilling both to hear the Spirits voyce and obey it And I vvould have all to endeavor diligently for the injoyment of the Spirit and hearken every one that hath an ear vvhat it speaks for the teachings thereof are very glorious it makes a soul live as it vvere in heaven vvhile on earth Surely vvhen Daniels faith vvas made strong by the injoyment of this blessed Spirit of God so as nothing could hinder him from the vvorship of God Oh! vvhat svveet communion did he injoy vvith God and although throvvn into the lions den yet there vvonderfully and comfortably preserved I have found this that vve are too ready to dispise or slight the Spirit of God vvhen it appears in something beyond us or out of our reach but let us take heed of this evil also This good Spirit of God is that vvhich vvill enable us to chuse to suffer rather then to sin and in all our suffering it vvill vvonderfully assist and uphold us and carry through the forest firy tryals and if vve be throvvn into sufferings for Christ sake be sure he vvil make one vvith us to uphold us in the furnis and vve need not study hovv vve shall be delivered from our ennemies for God vvill deal vvith them as he did vvith Daniel and the three Children for he will recompence the wickedness of the wicked upon their ovvn heads therefore fear not but stand still and vvait and yovv shall see the salvation of God And I do not think that these things be given in to me from the Lord for my ovvne sake only but for your benefit to vvhom it may come and I hope I am so far from having high thoughts of my self that the more I see of God and injoy from God so much the more cause I have to be humble and if others find theirhearts as bad as I have found mine they vvill see cause enough to use all means vvith them and vvhen allis done it must be faith in Jesus Christ must remove this mountain faith vvill carry us out of ourselves unto Christ and cause us to rest on him to do all our vvorkes for us and in us do ye cherish a holy fear against sin and an holy bouldness to come to God and a holy confidence in him for vvhat we come for and let not the fear of man hinder from any duty God calls thee unto to conclude I only commend unto you that vvord in Micha 6 8. So shal I leave this to the blessing of the Lord and the consideration of the vvise COURTEOUS READER IF these my Experiences sute not with thy condition yet let it have a patient view of thee and pass by what is of the flesh Own what is of the spirit and Iudg not what thou shalt meet with of the truth because thou art not yet acquainted in that way for the secrets of God are sometime with pore weak ones that sears him and what is come to pass I hope you will believe If it was not out of obedience to God it should not have com'd to your vew neither would I have put my name to it if I could have avoided it for fear of the rash Iudgment of some Least it should be thought I did it out of pride or to own a prophetical spirit which I know not But I own a Prophetical voice of Christ which if he pleases to speak he can make mee to hear yea to believe this I have Experience of And if these Crumes which I have gathered from my bountiful Lords table you cannâ—t find it savory to you leave it to the hungry broaken hearted Christians to whâ—â— ever crumbe of mercy is sweet when